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- Ελληνικά
The Speaker of the House of Representatives Ms Anita Demetriou had a meeting today with the Vice-President of the European Commission, responsible for the European way of life, Mr Margaritis Schinas.
Welcoming the Vice-President of the European Commission to the Parliament, Mrs Demetriou noted the very important portfolio of Mr Schinas, which includes key and sensitive issues and expressed her gratitude for the European Commissioner's response to issues concerning Cyprus.
The President of the Parliament expressed concern about Turkey's illegal actions in the enclosed area of Famagusta and about the pursuit of creating new fait accompli. Such actions, Ms Demetriou stressed, further hamper efforts to find a solution to the Cyprus problem. The President of the Parliament assured that the Greek Cypriot side wishes to contribute in every possible way to untie the Cyprus problem from stagnation and to achieve a solution that ensures a common future in conditions of peace, security and prosperity for all Cypriots. Referring to the President's proposal for confidence-building measures as a step in this direction, Mrs Demetriou stressed the importance of the European Union's (EU) support for these efforts.
Ms Demetriou also referred to the efforts made by Cyprus to address the multiple effects of the pandemic and the role of the House of Representatives in adopting the necessary reforms within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan.
On the issue of migration, the Speaker of the House highlighted the disproportionate burden borne by the first host states, such as Cyprus, and stressed the need to adopt a common stance at the level of the European Union. Acknowledging the problems arising from the inherent characteristics of the Green Line, Mr Schinas assured of the EU's support. In this context, he noted the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the EU and the Republic of Cyprus and its expected substantial contribution to the management of migratory flows.
With regard to the Conference on the Future of Europe, the President of the Parliament underlined that politicians should listen to the concerns and worries of citizens, especially young people, and ensure that citizens are aware of the benefits of EU membership, as well as the opportunities offered for finding common solutions to major challenges, such as migration, climate change and security.
During the meeting, there was an exchange of views on rising tensions in Europe, with particular reference to the Ukrainian crisis, and hope for a de-escalation and continued dialogue.
In conclusion, Mrs Demetriou expressed her and the House of Representatives' readiness to undertake joint initiatives and actions, where possible, which will contribute to addressing the multiple challenges that the EU is facing today.
IK
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